Japan: everything you NEED to do in Tokyo & Kyoto

Want a once-in-a-lifetime trip? Japan in springtime, when the cherry blossom famously puts on a brief but breathtaking show, is unlike anywhere else on Earth. It’s a place where tradition meets modernity, and to really get it you have to experience both. We travelled East with Cathay Pacific to collate the ultimate bucket list. Take your pick, but get up early and stay out late – there’s a lot to pack in…

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Traditional

STAY

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Hoshinoya, Tokyo

The city’s first luxury ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) is a glorious ode to the ceremonial spirit of Japan. Shoes are not allowed and you’ll be encouraged to wear a kimono during your stay. Guests sleep on low futons, areas are separated by shōji paper screens and each floor has a butler. Don’t leave without soaking in the rooftop hot spring.

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VISIT

Sumo practice, Tokyo

Watch wrestlers at their morning practice – it’s far more intimate than a match. Obey the etiquette of this revered tradition: no talking, no laughing, no showing the soles of your feet and certainly no sleeping (it’s strangely relaxing).

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EAT

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Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Michelin-starred food that won’t break the bank? Yes, please. This yakitori restaurant offers some of the city’s best barbecued chicken. A great way to sample a local speciality that won’t scare the living daylights out of you (unless you’d prefer to seek out basashi, or raw sliced horse?). Wash it down with a Sapporo Classic beer or some sake.

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DRINK

In the dimly lit Bar K-ya, which is inspired by a traditional Japanese wooden house, bartenders wear tuxes and hand-carve ice cubes from blocks. Make the Banana Brûlée your first cocktail.

VISIT

The shrines and temples, Kyoto

Temple fatigue is a thing, so be selective. Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion is a mind-blowingly beautiful gilded temple. Go early in the morning to avoid the hordes. From Kinkaku-ji, you can walk to Ryōan-ji, an exquisite Zen garden. Don’t miss Fushimi Inari-taisha – AKA the Red Gate Shrine. Giant tangerine arches weave through a mountainside for 4km. Wear trainers if you want to walk the whole site – it takes a good few hours.

STAY

The Peninsula, Tokyo

This hotel in upmarket Ginza is a stalwart of classic Tokyo luxury. You’ll be greeted by doormen in starched white suits and bellboy hats, and everyone will know your name. Expect all-the-frills suites and round-the-clock service.

EAT

Chao Chao Sanjo Kiyamachi, Kyoto

With a vast menu of gyoza (pan-fried dumplings), this restaurant caters for the conservative and adventurous alike. You’ll probably have to queue, but the pork dumplings make it worthwhile. Order the chocolate gyoza too if you’ve got room.

VISIT

Takaragawa Onsen, Gunma

This natural hot spring, two hours by train from Tokyo, will eclipse any previous spa experience. Bathe among towering mountains in mineral-rich waters heated by volcanic land.

Futuristic

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Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo

This is the place to find a slice of Eastern bling. Hallways gleam with gold fixtures, sparkly accents and chandeliers. Rooms are modern and spacious, with vast beds, state-of-the-art bathrooms and city views. Pick the candied hazelnut ricotta pancakes for breakfast.

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VISIT

Harajuku, Tokyo

The area name-checked by Gwen Stefani is as cosplay as you’d hope it to be. Think knee-high socks, pastel petticoats and doll-like lashes. Start at Harajuku station and wander down Takeshita and Cat streets to experience teen Japan in all its glory. Expect to hear “kawaii!” (cute) a lot.

EAT

Order ramen from a vending machine

Yes, really. Select the ramen you want, take your ticket and present it to the waiter, who will promptly bring it to your table. Believe it or not, some of the best ramen is found in Tokyo Station. Follow signs for Ramen Dori (that’s ‘Ramen Street’), where you’ll stumble upon some of the city’s most frequented restaurants.

VISIT

Club Sega, Tokyo

Scattered all over the city, multi-storey gaming arcades are huge in Japan. Gather your coins and head to the dance mats, or step into a photobooth, where you can adorn your photostrips with teen-tastic emojis and cartoons, change your eye colour, blush your cheeks and shower yourself in love hearts. They’re the very best souvenir to take home with you.

EAT

Two Rooms Grill and Bar, Tokyo

This modern restaurant fuses Old and New World cooking techniques to create dishes that make the best of the freshest market produce. Enjoy the rooftop bar (a rare find in Tokyo) before dining on A5-graded wagyu beef – A5 being, y’know, the best in the country.

EAT

New York Grill, Tokyo

If you want the best view of Tokyo from a skyscraper, book New York Grill (featured in the 2003 film Lost In Translation) right away. You’ll have rich execs for company, but you’ll be way too dazzled by the sea of city lights to notice.

DRINK

In this neighbourhood comprising six narrow alleyways, you’ll find more than 200 miniature shanty-style bars. Bar-hop but take note: each place only seats around eight punters (some even fewer).

VISIT

Robot Restaurant, Tokyo

Visited by the likes of Katy Perry and Lily Allen, this joint is bejewelled to within an inch of its life. Watch as robots ‘fight’ each other among neon dancers and raging lasers. Two words: sensory overload.

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Alamy

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Plastic-food making, Tokyo

This is the latest craze sweeping Japan. Yes, you read that right: plastic-food making. Book a class at the family-run Yamato Sample studio and make silicone ice-cream sundaes or mini wax sushi pieces. We can see this catching on in the UK.